Hockey in Russia free essay sample

We are going to talk about the history of the national hockey team of the Soviet Union during 1964-1982 under BrezJnevs control of the country. The Soviet national ice hockey team was formed in 1960s . The coaching tandem of Tarasov and Chernyshev was very successful in creating this new team. Alongside the famous trio of Loktev- Almetov-Alexandrov they installed players like Alexander Yakushev, Wacheslav Starshinov, big bear Alexander Ragulin and also one of the most talented hockey players ever, Anatoly Firsov. In 1968, Anatoly Tarasov saw a fifteen year-old kid in the Army Junior team whose goalkeeping abilities were so unbelievable that Tarasov right away invited this guy, whose name was Vladislav Tretiak, to practice with the first team. Thats how the most well-known Russian hockey players started their way to world wide fame. 1970s is considered the golden age of the Soviet hockey. Russian hockey stars of the 1970s were not able to play in the pro leagues. But, they earned international respect for the European hockey style and built the foundation for the future NHL stars Bure, Fedorov, Hasek, Jagr and many other graduates of European chool. Watching the successes in hockey of the late 1960s and 1970s, Tarasov was able to convince the Soviet Hockey Federation, that the time had come to play against the best in the world, at that time it was the team of Canadian professionals. Eventually, in 1972 happened the event, that is not forgotten even nowadays, the titans of hockey clashed in the legendary Summit Series! It was decided to arrange a tournament of eight games the first four in Canada and the rest in Russia. The Canadian team was coached by Harry Sinden and included the best NHL players at that time. In contrary, there was a not so fortunate replacement on the Soviets side: Tarasov and Chernyshev as the coaches were replaced by Bobrov and Kulagin. Anatoly Firsov was also out, because of his support for Tarasov. Many people expected that the result of the series would be an 8-0 sweep by the Canadians. But after the first game, led by Kharlamov and Tretiak, the Soviet squad surprised the Canadians and won 7-3. Nearly 130 million people watched the game on Soviet TV or listened to it on the radio and celebrated the victory, while Canada was totally shocked. After three more games in Canada the tour went to Moscow. The Russian team led the series with 2-1-1 . After a great comeback of the Canadians, both teams had three wins till the last game. Playing in the last period of the decisive game, Paul Henderson made the most important goal in Canadian hockey history. Canada won this key game 6-5 and also the tournament. Although the Soviets lost the Series, this game changed the hockey world. The Soviet players led by Kharlamov, Tretiak and Yakushev proved, that they were as good as their North American opponents. The game of 1972 revealed not only a huge potential of the Russian hockey team, but also howed that Russia had recovered after the Second World War and was ready for new victories. After the series, both styles of hockey had changed forever. learning more and more from each other, both nations organized further tournaments to see the best players of both sides on the ice. Summit Series 1974 against the pros of the WHA, Super Series 1975, Canada Cup 1976 and the biggest indication of their skills, the Challenge Cup 1979 against the NHL-All-Stars were played and the Soviet teams won most ot the games. The Soviets proved that their hockey program can be the best. Nothing lasts forever, the 80s started with a shock for the Soviet Team. They started as the favorites in the Olympic games of 1980 in Lake Placid, but lost their Gold Medal against a young U. S. team, coached by Herb Brooks. The American fans still call this big gift of fortune the Miracle on ice. Tikhonov started to work harder and put more pressure on his players to avoid such a big failure again. The coach began to threat his older and slower top-line. First he clashed with Petrov and Mikhailov, later with Kharlamov and put him off the roster for the Canada Cup 1981, which was supposed to be his last tournament. But, unfortunately on August 28th 1981, the great Valery Kharlamov died along with his wife Irina in a car accident. The nation got a big shock. John Sanful wrote in his book Russian Revolution The best one-on-one player in Soviet history, a legend in his own country and in the world after twelve years on the national team, was gone. The Soviet Union had lost its most talented, flamboyant player. To complete the five-man-unit, Tikhonov installed Alexei Kasatonov and Viacheslav Fetisov. They became the most dominating combination in Hockey for nearly a decade. Fetisov became the new captain of the national team. Together with Larionov he led the team from victory to victory. The first important one was winning the Canada Cup in 1981. The Olympic Games in 1984 in Sarajevo, also won by the Soviet Union, brought a big loss. It was Tretiaks last tournament. The last player of the 72 team retired. Since the day the Russians havent been able to find a goalkeeper of his class. After reaching third place in the World Championships in 1985,they won Gold again on the home ice in Moscow. In 1987 people around the world saw the best games ever. Neither the players nor the spectators will ever forget the game for Canada Cup. It was the top perfect hockey. On the one side the Soviets with their superstars on the other side the NHL stars. All three games ended 6-5. The Soviets won the first game, Team Canada the other two and also the tournament with an overtime goal by Super-Mario Lemieux in game three. Top hockey Journalist George Gross from Toronto said shortly after the third game: We were there and had the privilege of seeing ice hockey being played at a level you are never going to witness again. Thats something to tell our grandchildren. A few months after these unbelievable games, the Soviets went to Canada again. The 1988 Olympics were held in Calgary. The Soviet Union defended their Olympic Gold title by winning seven out of eight games. It was very important for the team, because after the Olympics in 1984. It was the last Olympic Gold Medal with the letters USSR on their Jerseys. In 1989 they won the last World Championship of the decade. The junior team was also able to win this title thanks to three young guys: Pavel Bure, Sergei Fedorov and Alexander Mogilny. They would have become the future of Soviet hockey in the 90s, the successors to the KLM-Line, but then things changed. Ending our repot we would like to say, that in Russia children over generations have been brought up with a clear view over their great country and its legends.